And dressing type



{No Model.) 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. H. WELSH 8M). W. WO'ODWARD.

MACHINE FOR RUBBING AND DRESSING TYPE.

N0.266,932. I Patented 0ot.31,18'82.

(No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. WELSH & G. W. WOO'DWARD. MACHINE FOR RUBBING AND DRESSING TYPE.

No. 266,932. Patented Ocfn. 31, 1882. v

I I m U z it o Fig% w w a- I 2-- t t z Fig? 1; o o f I E Q ix I iWITNESSES l Z INVENTURS z m w (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3., W. H. WELSH 8: G. W. WOODWARD; I MACHINE FOR RUBBINGAND DRESSING TYPE.

N0. 266,932. Patented Oct. 31, 1882;

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. INVENTUHS PL PETERS Mummy Wuhinm D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. WELSH AND CHARLES W. WOODVVARD, OF BOSTON, MASS.

MACHI NE FOR RUBBING AND DRESSING TYPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,932, dated October31, 1882,

Application filed December 16, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. WELSH andCHARLES W. WUODWARD, citizens of the United States, residing atBoston,in the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have inventedcertain Improvements in Machines for Rubbing and Dressing Type, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, inwhich- Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved machine forrubbing and dressing type. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectionthrough the center of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section,enlarged, on the line or m of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal verticalsection taken through one of the slides. Fig. 5 is .a plan of a portionof the machine, showing the type-carrying plate. Fig. 6 is a verticalsection, enlarged, through the hopper and adjacent parts of the machine.Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the type-receiver; Figs. 8, 9,l0, and 11, details.

Our invention relates to certain improvements in machines for rubbingand dressing type, whereby a large number arranged in a single line canbe operated upon simultaneously forthe purpose of removing the fins orfeather-edges and smoothly finishing them, ready for removing the jetsor sprues and packing, each type requiring to be separately handled butonce, thereby effecting a material saving in time and labor, and alsoenabling the work to be performed with a rapidity and accuracyheretofore unattained, while the melting over and recasting of aconsiderable quantity of type, heretofore necessitated by theimpossibility of properly rubbing it by hand on account of its form, isentirely avoided.

To this end our invention consists in a machine embodying a hopper orreceiver,in which the type are placed in rows or lines, one over theother; a rubbing or abrading surface or surfaces, against which the typeare firmly held in their passage through the machine; an automaticmechanism for drawing or carrying positively a single line or row oftype ata time over or under such rubbing or abrading surface orsurfaces, and a receptacle or box in which the type are deposited afterbeing operated upon by the rubbing mechanism; and our invention alsoconsists in certain details of construction, as hereinafter set forthand 5 specifically claimed.

In the said drawings, Arepresents a flat bed or table, supported uponsuitable framework, 13. To the top of this table A, near one end,issecured a case or hopper,O,iu which are placed the type a to be rubbedfor the purpose of removing the 'fins or featheredges which in castingare left on three sides of the type at the letter end, one side, I), ofthe hopper being made to slide in grooves in or- 6 der that'it may bereadily removed to facilitate the operation of filling it with type,which are placed in rows or lines one above the other,

all bearing the same letter. This is accomplished by setting them up ina compositors 7o stick in lines or rows of a length corresponding tothat of the hopper, which is preferably six inches, as this is the widthof the boxes in which the finished type are usually packed, the typebeing transferred to the hop- 7 5 per, after which the side '1) isreplaced.

Immediately in front of the hopper O is placed a flat piece ofgrindstone, D, or other equivalent gritty or abrading substance, or aflat piece of steel having a surface formed like a file, which is letinto the table A so as to lie perfectly flush therewith, and directlyover this stone D is secured, by means of adjusting-screws c, a stifl'iron presser-plate, E, the distance of the under surface of which fromthe stone can be nicely regulated by means of the screws 0 to correspondto the thickness of the type, which are drawn between these twosurfaces, in a manner to be presently explained, for the purpose ofcausing the fins on their under sides to be removed by the actionthereon of the stone, upon which they are firmly held during theirpassage thereover by the presser-plate E.

A certain and reliable method of adjusting the plate E which we preferto adopt is by inserting four type of the same size as those in thehopper, and placed in the same relative position, between the table Aand plate E, at or near the corners of the plate, and then turn we ingthe screws 0 to hold the plate down thereon. The front side, d, of thehopperO is made to slide in groves c in the same manner as the side I),and forms an adjustable gate, which can be raised and lowered by meansof a thumbscrew,f, in order to leave a throat or narrow aperture, 9, atthe bottom of the hopper, of a sufficient width or height to allow ofthe passage of a single line of type of any thickness or size to thestone D.

Over the table A, in front of the stone D and plate E, is secured byadjusting-screws h a metallic box or holder, G, within which is held, byscrews "6 or otherwise, another flat piece of grindstone, H, or otherequivalent abrading substance, which is adjustedand held at the requireddistance from the surface of the table A to allow of the passage of thetype by means of the screws h,'and type placed under its corners, asdescribed for the plate E, this second stone, H, serving to remove thefins from the upper surfaces of the type after those on the under sideshave been removed by the first stone, D, the surface of the table Aacting as a guide and serving to keep the upper surfaces ofthe typefirmly against the abrading-surface H thereover.

We will now describe the mechanism by means of which an entire line oftype arranged side by side, and of a length corresponding to thatof'theinterior of the hopper, is positively forced or carriedsimultaneously over the stone D and under the stone H, for the purposeof removingthe fins and smoothly finishing them, as previouslydescribed.

Along the sides of the tableA, nearthe edges, are formed grooves 7t; 7c,in which are fitted slides l l, the upper surfaces of which are flushwith the top of the table. At one end these slides l are connectedtogether bya cross-bar, I, to the opposite ends of which are pivoted twopitmen or connecting-rods, m m, which are also pivoted at n n to theupper ends of two levers, K K, to which arepivoted connectingrods 1) p,to be actuated by cams or other suitable driving mechanism adapted toimpart the required reciprocating movement to the slides Z Z. Thisactuating mechanism is intended to be supported by the frame-workbeneath the table A, but is not shown, as it forms no part of ourpresent invention. The ends of the slides l opposite to those united bythe crossbar I are connected together by a thin steel carrier-plate, L,the length of which should exceed by at least one or two inches that ofthe strokeor traverse of the slides Z. This carrierplate L, which restsupon the table A, extends under the openrbottom of the hopper and formsa surface for the lower line or row of type therein to rest upon, asseen. in Fig. 2. A portion of the plate L is cut away in front, leavinga space, q, Fig. 8, of the same dimensions as those of the interior ofthe hopper, by which construction, when the plate L is forced to the endof its rearward traverse by the movement of the slides Z the lower lineof type in the hopperdrops through the space g, which is broughtdirectly thereunder onto the table A, the remaining rows of typesettling down a distance equal to the thickness of the plate L. ()n thereturn-stroke of this plate L its front edge, r,

strikes against thejet ends of the lower row of type and carriespositively the entire line simultaneously forward through the throat g,adjusted to allow of their passage, and thence over the stone D andunder the stone H, as previously described, whereby the operation ofrubbing is performed with great rapidity and accuracy. As soon as thelower line of type has passed through the gate the next line abovesettles onto the plate L, and on the return movement of the latter dropsinto the space q, ready to be carried forward in the same manner as theprevious line.

The type must all be placed in the hopper with the letter end toward thefront, ready to go forward in that position, in order that the edge 1"of the plate L may take a firm bearing on the jet ends, as required,andall danger of injuring the letter ends thus avoided, and by thus causingthe type to be carried forward by a positive pressure applied to theirends their regular passage through the machine is insured, which cannotbe effected by the employment of an endless belt, as in machinesheretofore constructed for this purpose, where the friction of the beltupon the type is relied upon to carry them through the machine. Thehopper is inclined at an angle of about ten degrees to the vertical,which causes each row of type to project slightly beyond the rowimmediately above, as seen in Figs. 6 and 11, thus preventing the finsof one row from resting on those of the next row, and consequentlyenabling the type to lie more compactly and squarely in the hopper thanif the fin of one type rested on that of the type next below, while theliability of the fins of the lower row getting behind and catchingagainst those of the row above, which might obstruct their forwardmovement, is entirely avoided. The edge 15 of the presser-plate E isslightly beveled to facilitate the entrance of the type beneath it, asis necessary on account of the fins, which render them thicker at theirfront ends when they first enter beneath the plate E. The first line oftype, after being rubbed, is drawn out from under the stone H by thecontinued forward movement of the plate L, and deposited thereby uponthe movable bottom .9 of a box orreceptacle, M, which is of the samesize as the hopper O and adapted to contain its entire contents, theupper portion of the receptacle M being formed by cutting aslot throughthe table A, and the lower portion consisting of a casting made in twohalves secured to the under side of the table.

Over the bottom 8 is placed a transverse presser-bar, Q, secured at itsopposite ends to a pair of narrow plates or springs, t, secured to thetable A at 16 16, and lying parallelwith the slides l and just outsidethereof. The ends of each of the springs t, where they are attached tothe bar Q, are curved or turned up, forming an incline, u, against whichstrikes an adjustable pin or projection,w,on the adjacent slide 1, forthe purpose of raising the bar Q sufficiently to allow the line of typeto pass thereunder into 266,93Q ii the receptacle M, the position ofthepins w on the slides being such that the bar Q will be lifted as soonas the line of type begins to emerge from under the stone H.

The bottoms of the type-receiver M is provided at each end withatongue,a, Fig. 7,which slides in an open vertical space or slot, 1),formed in-the end of-the receiver, and to each of the tongues a issecured a curved spring, 0, which bears against a vertical friction-plate, cl, secured to the under side of the table A. In this mannersufficient friction is created to enable the bottom 8 to support aweight considerably exceeding that of the entire quantity of typecontained in the hopper C, which is eventually transferred to thereceiver M. On the returnstroke of the carrier-plate L, after havingdeposited a line of type upon the bottom 8 of the box M, two adjustablescrews or projections, e, 6 Figs. 2, 4, and 10,0n the under side oftheends 18 ofthe cross-bar I, strikeinclines 20 at the ends of the plates tand depress the bar Q, causing it to press down the line of type, andwith them the bottom 8, against the friction of the springs 0' until theupper surfaces of the type are flush with the upper surface of the tableA, or a little below it, which allows the next line of type broughtforward by the carrier-plate to pass over and rest upon the first line.The presserbar Q now descends, as before, and presses down the secondline of type flush with or a little below the upper surface of thetable, ready for the next line, the type being in this mannertransferred one line at a time from the hopper 0 to the receiver M untilthe entire contents of the former rest upon the bottom 8. Thefriction-plates d converge slightly toward the hottom,by which means anadditional compression of the springs c is efl'ected, as the weight ofthe type on the bottom 8 increases with its descent, and thus allpossibility of the bottom falling out of the box M is avoided.

We prefer to first place a narrow strip of metal upon the movable bottom8, and after all the type have passed into the receiver M we placeanother similar strip on top of them, by which means the operation ofhandling the type after the bottom 8 has been removed is greatlyfacilitated.

In practice the hopper should be about six inches in length and the samein height, and about one inch, or a little more than the length of atype, in width from front to rear, which enables the type, after havingbeen rubbed setways, to be taken out of the receiver M in a singlebunch, turned aquarter-wayrouud, and again placed within the hopper 0,after which the gate (1, plate E, and holder G are adjusted and the typerubbed or dressed bodyways. As soon as this latter operation iscompleted the type are again removed from the receiver M, when thesprues or jets are planed off and the type examined for imperfectly-castletters, and then packed in the ordinary shipping-boxes without breakingthe bunch as it comes from the receiver M, the individual types havingbeen subjected in the entire operation to a single handling only, whichoccurs when they are first set up in the stick or galley, preparatory tobeing tranferred to the hopper G for the first rubbing, and consequentlyby the employmentofour improved machine an immense, amount of extralabor is avoided and a material saving in the cost of the type thuseffected, while at the same time the operation of rubbing and dressingis performed in such a perfect and reliable manner that a large numberof type can be saved, which it has hithereto been necessary to discardand recast on account of the impossibility of properly rubbing andfinishing them by hand. Furthermore, the great rapidity with which thework is performed by our improved machine, in consequence of an entirerow or line of type being simultaneously carried forward and rubbed,renders it superior to all'other machines hitherto used for thispurpose, while it also possesses the additional advantages ofsimplicity,durability,and freedom from liability to get out of order.

It is evident that the machine can be constructed, ifdesired, withasingle stone orabrading-surface, instead of two, as shown; but in suchcase much time would be lost, as the type would be required to be passedthrough the machine three times instead of twice.

in rubbing kerned and italic type a thin steel-plate of a width lessthan the length of the type is introduced within the hopper between eachrow oftype, placed with the kern or projection uppermost, one of thesecoveringplates being carried forward with each row immediately above thesame, which is effected by increasing the thickness of the carrier-plateL so that it will hear both upon the jet ends of the type and the edgeof the narrow coveringplate resting thereon and by this means the kernsor projections which'extend over the bodies of the type are preventedfrom coming into contact with the under surface of the plate E and thatof the stone H, which latter is raised sufficiently, by means of itsscrews-h, to prevent it from pressingu'pon and wearing away the steelcoverin g-plates resting on the ro ws of type.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a machine for rubbing and dressing type, the combination of a bedor table, one or more adjustable rubbing or abradin g surfaces appliedthereto, and means, substantially as described, for positively carryingor forcing simultaneously an entire line or row of type over or underthe rubbing surface or surfaces, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a machine for rubbing and dressing type, the combination of a bedor table provided with oueormoreadjustablerubbingorabrading surfaces, ahopper for containing the type to be rubbed, means for positivelycarrying or forcing simultaneously an entire line or row of type over orunder the rubbing surface or surfaces, a box or receiver having amovable bottom for eontainin g the type after being rubbed, and apresser device for forcing each line of type deposited in the receiverdown flush with the upper surface of the table to allow the next line Ithe sliding bottom 8, provided with tongues a,

of type to pass thereover, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for rubbing and dressing type, the combination, with thetable, hopper, and adjustable rubbing mechanism, of the carrier-plate L,adapted to bear upon the jet ends of the type and simultaneously forceor carry through the machine positively an entire line or row of type,substantially as described.

4. In a machine for rubbing and dressing type, the combination, with thetype-receiver M, with its sliding bottom 8, and the type-carrying andrubbing mechanism, of the presser-..

bar Q, the slides l, with their projections to, the crossbar I, with itsprojections c ,and the plates or springs 25, with their inclines 20, allconstructed to operate substantially in the manner and for the purposeset forth.

5. In a machine for rubbing and dressing type, the combination, with thereceiver M, of-

adapted to slide in the Vertical slots 1), and springs 0, adapted tobear against the frictionplates d, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

6. In a machine for rubbing and dressing type, the combination of thereceiver M, the sliding bottom 8, with its tongues a andsustaining-springs c, and the friction-plates d convergingtowardtheirlower ends for the purpose of increasing the pressure of thesprings c as the bottom descends and the weight of the type thereonincreases, substantially as described.

her, A. D. 1881.

WILLIAM H. YVELSH. CHARLES W. WOODWARD.

In presence of I. E. TEscHEMAoHER, W. J. CAMBRIDGE.

